Junior studies in Rostock: Future-oriented opportunities for school talent!

Junior studies in Rostock: Future-oriented opportunities for school talent!

With 371 enrollments for a digital junior course, the University of Rostock in the winter semester 2025/2026 to the great interest of young students. These participants come from various federal states, including Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin, Brandenburg and Baden-Württemberg. The majority of junior students attend upper secondary school, but younger, gifted students also have the opportunity to take part.

The opening event, which will take place on September 27th on the Ulmencampus, will, among other things, offer a science slam and informative lectures about digital learning and the Rostock study location. Dr. Yvonne Niekrenz, head of the teaching transfer center, and Franka Maria Herfurth, dean for international affairs, will welcome the participants.

Subjects and content offered

The junior course at the University of Rostock offers a wide range of events. Medical subjects such as neuroanatomy and organ systems are particularly popular. Courses in business administration, imperative programming and modern philosophy also attract many interested parties.

A total of 28 lecture series from six different fields of study are available to choose from. New to the program is the “Fundamentals of Ship Technology” course, which deals with the construction of giant containers and ‘flying ships’. All lectures can be accessed online via a dedicated learning platform and include digital tests and tasks, which enables junior students to learn flexibly, both during school hours and after class.

The support of students at the University of Rostock who are studying in the respective subjects enables junior students to gain targeted insights into the course content. The early study program, which has been offered free of charge since 2008, is enjoying growing popularity and cooperates with around 40 schools nationwide to offer students insights into various subjects.

Assessment and proof of performance

An important aspect of the junior course is the opportunity to write a distance exam in selected subjects. If they perform appropriately, the junior students receive a certificate that will later be recognized for studies at the University of Rostock. The evaluation is carried out in percentages for different task formats, as in the University of Rostock explained in detail.

• Teilnahme an Präsenzveranstaltungen: 20%
• Tests: 15%
• Aufgaben: 20%
• Projektarbeit: 25%
• Online Aktivität: 20%

Students must take two tests and two assignments per semester. In addition, project work is carried out throughout the semester, which reflects real everyday study life and accounts for around 25% of the overall assessment. The program promotes digital skills and aims to strengthen future skills such as critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving skills.

The variety of courses and the flexible participation in both Leibniz University Hannover as well as at the University of Rostock offer junior students a valuable opportunity to gain early insights into academic disciplines and prepare for their future studies.